The best anti-aging eye creams for 50s

The eyes are one of the most striking features of the face, but they’re also one of the first places signs of aging show. The delicate, thin skin around the orbital area is prone to sagging, wrinkling, and a loss of firmness, which is only exacerbated as we get older.

While we can’t turn back time, we can support and nourish the skin around the eye area to brighten, plump, firm, and soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. There certainly isn’t a shortage of eye products available on the market, but we’ve researched the array of options and compiled a comprehensive guide to the absolute best anti-aging eye creams for yours 50s, 60s, and beyond.

The Best Anti-Aging Eye Creams for 50s

1. Blu Atlas Eye Stick

One of our absolute favorite anti-aging eye creams is the Eye Stick from premium grooming company Blu Atlas. This formula earns high marks from us, as it is packed with top-notch ingredients that not only fights signs of aging but also brighten and minimize puffiness and dark circles, as well as hydrate and rejuvenate the eye area.

This formula features multitasking ascorbic acid, a highly effective form of vitamin C, which stimulates the production of collagen to firm and soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also brightens the skin to minimize dark circles and discoloration. It has antioxidant benefits to protect the skin against damaging free radicals. An additional anti-aging powerhouse in the formula is palmitoyl tripeptide-5, which adds extra firming power to the formula.

Another noteworthy ingredient is antioxidant-rich coffea canephora seed extract, which is loaded with caffeine. Caffeine helps minimize dark circles and puffiness by constricting the blood vessels in the undereye area, helping to brighten and awaken the eyes. Rosewater further depuffs and fights dullness, while algae extract nourishes the skin. In order to plump, hydrate, and soothe the skin, the Eye Stick is also made with ingredients like niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, and squalane.

In addition to being a top-performing product, the Blu Atlas Eye Stick also has a clean formula that is vegan and cruelty free. It is made without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, or synthetic fragrances. It’s also worth noting that 96% of the ingredients are derived from natural origins, making this solution both highly effective and safe for your skin.

2. iS Clinical Youth Eye Complex

This clinically proven anti-aging eye cream from luxury brand iS Clinical is certainly a splurge, but it offers impressive results worth the high price tag. The Youth Eye Complex contains a range of advanced technologies that fight signs of aging (including crow’s feet) and boost moisture while improving the skin’s resilience.

The Youth Eye Complex is powered in part by three peptides: copper tripeptide-1, tripeptide-10, and acetyl octapeptide-3. Peptides are known to smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and are powerful solutions for boosting elasticity and promoting a more youthful appearance. The peptides are joined by marine extremozyme, which lessens signs of premature aging and diminishes puffiness, as well as hyaluronic acid, which locks moisture into the skin to plump and soften lines.

This formula is further strengthened by antioxidants that protect the eye area by fighting the damaging effects of free radicals. Ingredients like glycerin and panthenol hydrate the skin to keep it soft and plump.

3. Holifrog Owel Multi-Peptide Eye Cream

This silky eye cream from Holifrog is loaded with peptides, botanical seed oils and other ingredients that fight the appearance of fatigue by depuffing and brightening the eyes while also targeting multiple signs of aging. It’s the perfect all-in-one eye cream for anyone in their 50s and beyond.

As the name suggests, the Multi-Peptide Eye Cream is formulated with two potent peptides: acetyl hexapeptide-8 and dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate. Acetyl hexapeptide-8 is a neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptide that tackles wrinkles that are created by facial movement. Dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate is able to penetrate deep in the skin to reduce wrinkles.

The peptides aren’t the only anti-agers used in this formula. The eye cream also contains an amino acid-mineral complex that helps boost the production of elastin and collagen, both of which are crucial for maintaining youthful, firm skin. Argania spinosa callus culture extract also tightens and firms the complexion while softening wrinkles.

Emollients and oils like mango seed butter, white lupine seed oil, prunus domestica seed oil, and jojoba seed oil deeply nourish, moisturize, and strengthen the skin’s barrier so that the eye area looks and feels softer, plumper, and more resilient. At the same time, antioxidant-rich and anti-inflammatory plant extracts protect the skin against damaging free radicals while calming inflammation.

Bonus: The clean formula is vegan and cruelty free, and it doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, or mineral oil.

4. La Mer The Eye Concentrate

Another one of the absolute best anti-aging eye creams that continues to make our shortlist is The Eye Concentrate from luxury brand La Mer. The rich but fast-absorbing cream is formulated to quench the skin while lessening signs of aging and dark circles for a brighter and more youthful appearance. Even better, this formula is made without parabens, sulfates, or phthalates. It also comes with an applicator that makes it easy to safely apply the solution.

Like all other La Mer products, at the center of this formula is the Miracle Broth, which contains a mixture of fermented ingredients, including eucalyptus, sea kelp, citrus, and a range of vitamins and minerals. This cell-renewing complex calms and hydrates the skin while also smoothing and brightening for an energized, radiant appearance.

Another key component is the Clarity Ferment. This ferment contains sea kelp sourced from Jeju Island in South Korea to target dark circles. The final star of this decadent eye cream is lime tea concentrate, which is packed with antioxidants. This concentrate defends the skin against the damaging effects of free radicals, preventing future visible signs of aging.

This is one of the priciest anti-aging eye creams available on the market. However, the company is so confident in the formula that it promises it will improve the overall appearance of the eye area in 21 days.

5. COSRX Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream

Snail mucin may not be the most appealing skincare ingredient, but hear us out. This ingredient has skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years, thanks to its ability to deeply hydrate and rejuvenate the skin. The Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream from Korean beauty brand COSRX combines snail mucin with other powerful ingredients that brighten and hydrate the skin while promoting a more youthful appearance.

In addition to the nearly 74% concentration of snail mucin, this lightweight and fast-absorbing eye cream contains five different peptides. These peptides work together to encourage the production of elastin and collagen, which leads to increased firmness and elasticity, as well as softened fine lines and wrinkles. Another key ingredient is niacinamide, a calming ingredient that also minimizes dark circles to energize the eye area.

Additionally, the Advanced Snail Peptide Eye Cream contains a range of ingredients that further moisturize and soften the skin underneath and around the eyes, including glycerin, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate, and sunflower seed oil. This COSRX eye cream also earns extra points for being hypoallergenic and made without parabens, sulfates, mineral oils, or artificial fragrances.

6. Paula’s Choice Resist Anti-Aging Eye Gel

Paula’s Choice always offers top-quality, highly effective formulas, and this eye gel does not disappoint. The Resist Anti-Aging Eye Gel is crafted with a range of proven ingredients that soften lines and other signs of aging while hydrating, brightening, and de-puffing. It has a lightweight and refreshing texture that is perfectly well-suited for daytime wear, when you might not want to use a heavier eye cream.

This Paula’s Choice Eye Gel is formulated with three different peptides that work in tandem to target fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. Niacinamide works alongside peptides, brightening the undereye area to fade the appearance of dark circles. The formula is also thoughtfully made with some of the best ingredients for hydrating the skin and improving its ability to hold onto moisture, including hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, and panthenol.

What also makes this formula stand out is the range of antioxidant-packed plant extracts, including green tea, willow bark, licorice, and grape seed extracts. These ingredients work together to inhibit the effects of free radicals, limiting their ability to cause premature signs of aging in the eye area.

We also love the metal tip applicator, which cools and refreshes as it glides across the skin. Like all Paula’s Choice formulas, this eye gel is fragrance free and cruelty free. It’s also 100% vegan.

7. La Roche-Posay Redermic R Retinol Eye Cream

Retinol is the absolute gold-standard skincare ingredient when it comes to anti-aging formulas, so we can’t forget to suggest some of our favorite formulas powered by this vitamin A derivative. This eye cream was formulated to target fine lines and wrinkles (including pesky crow’s feet) while defending against free radicals and boosting moisture levels.

Of course, the key player in this eye cream is retinol. Retinol encourages skin cell turnover and promotes the production of collagen, making it a highly effective solution for firming the skin and softening fine lines and wrinkles. While retinol can be drying, this formula is also made with some of the most effective ingredients for hydrating the skin, including glycerin and sodium hyaluronate. These ingredients lock moisture into the skin to keep the eye area plump, soft, and healthy.

In addition to these ingredients, the Redermic R Retinol Eye Cream contains caffeine, which fights dark circles and tackles puffiness. It’s also packed with antioxidants that defend against free radicals. Caffeine works alongside thermal water from La-Roche Posay, France. This water soothes the sensitive eye area, and it’s loaded with minerals and trace elements that nourish the skin, including antioxidant-packed selenium.

This La Roche-Posay solution has a lightweight gel formula that quickly penetrates the skin. It’s free of parabens, fragrances, and oils and has been both dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested. Like many other products from the brand, it was also made to be suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. Ultimately, it’s a formula you can feel safe using in the delicate area around your eyes.

8. Glow Recipe Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Cream

Another retinol-powered eye cream that we can’t get enough of is the Avocado Melt Retinol Eye Cream from Glow Recipe. This hydrating rich cream combines retinol with other potent ingredients to target a range of concerns, including puffiness, dark circles, and loss of firmness. The formula is dermatologist and ophthalmologist tested, and it doesn’t contain sulfates, phthalates, mineral oil, or synthetic dyes or fragrances. It’s also vegan and cruelty free.

This eye cream contains encapsulated retinol, which is time-released over multiple hours to effectively soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Since it is slowly released to the skin, it is gentler compared to other more traditional retinols.

As the name suggests, this Glow Recipe eye cream also contains avocado extract and avocado oil. These super nourishing ingredients are packed with vitamins C and E, which both provide potent antioxidant protection and anti-aging benefits. Avocado also soothes the skin, joined by depuffing and brightening coffee fruit extract (which is also packed with antioxidants), as well as soothing and brightening niacinamide. Shea butter, squalane, glycerin, and other hydrators also work to lock in moisture and plump the skin.

What’s truly impressive about this eye cream are the results from a clinical study. After four weeks, 97% of participants noted a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. After six weeks, all participants said the eye area looked smoother and that the retinol was gentle on their skin.

9. Revision Skincare D.E.J Eye Cream

Another luxury option that we think is worth the splurge is the D.E.J Eye Cream from Revision Skincare. This eye cream was uniquely formulated to minimize droopiness while also rejuvenating the entire eye area. The clinically proven formula targets crepey skin, a loss in elasticity, and fine lines around the eyes.

As it says in the name, this Revision Skincare eye cream was created to target the Dermal-Epidermal-Junction, which plays a key role in skin aging. A unique blend of ingredients specifically targets this area of tissue, adding density back to the skin while firming, lifting, and softening fine lines and wrinkles. This blend is joined by dipalmitoyl hydroxyproline, which fights wrinkles by plumping and smoothing the skin, as well as five different antioxidants that defend against free radical damage.

In addition to these powerful ingredients, this eye cream contains alpha-glucan oligosaccharide (a prebiotic) and pseudoalteromonas ferment extract (a postbiotic), which bring balance to the skin’s microbiome. Cucumber fruit water soothes the skin, while hydrators improve hydration levels and the skin’s ability to retain water. We are also big fans of the metal tip applicator, which cools and depuffs the skin as the cream is applied.

10. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream

Nuetrogena’s Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream is here to prove that you don’t have to spend a ton to get a great quality formula. Dryness in the skin around the eyes can make the area look less voluminous and emphasize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. That’s why we love this super quenching eye cream, which gives the skin the moisture it desperately needs to look and feel softer and more youthful.

The star ingredient in this formula is hyaluronic acid. This humectant is able to draw moisture to the skin and lock it in, improving softness and comfort. By plumping the skin with water, it is also able to soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The hyaluronic acid works alongside glycerin, another powerful humectant that further hydrates the skin.

This Neutrogena product has a gel-cream formula that absorbs quickly into the skin, making it a non-greasy solution that is great to use during the day. It’s also non-comedogenic (meaning it won’t clog pores) and has been ophthalmologist tested.

11. Youth to the People Superfood Hydrate + Firm Eye Cream

Another one of our favorite clean ingredient anti-aging eye creams is the Youth to the People Superfood Hydrate + Firm Eye Cream. Using the power of superfoods, vitamins, and other nourishing ingredients, this formula firms and plumps while deeply hydrating the skin. It is rich but quickly penetrates the skin, making it an ideal product to use both morning and night. It’s also vegan and cruelty free, and it doesn’t contain parabens or phthalates.

This Youth to the People eye cream has a custom superfood blend featuring kale, spinach, green tea, and alfalfa. The blend is rich in vitamins that nourish and strengthen the skin, including vitamins C and E. It also contains antioxidants that protect against damaging free radicals that can contribute to signs of aging. This superfood blend is joined by two different peptides, which boost elasticity and firm and smooth fine lines and wrinkles for a more youthful appearance.

In addition to these ingredients, this eye cream contains ascorbic acid, a form of vitamin C that stimulates collagen production to further improve visible signs of aging. It also brightens the skin to minimize the appearance of dark circles and discoloration. Panthenol, sunflower seed oil, and aloe leaf extract provide anti-inflammatory and hydrating benefits, improving moisture levels while soothing the skin.

12. Dr. Dennis Gross Stress SOS Eye Cream

This eye cream from Dr. Dennis Gross pulls out all the stops. It’s packed with a wide range of highly effective ingredients that are meant to treat and prevent visible signs of stress in the eye area, including dark circles, fine lines, wrinkles, and puffiness. In a clinical study, an impressive 96% of participants found that the vegan and cruelty-free eye cream led to a significant improvement in fine lines in just two weeks, while 85% agreed that it improved crow’s feet after one week of use.

The Stress SOS Eye Cream uses niacinamide to calm the skin and minimize the appearance of dark circles. This is joined by the extract of rhodiola root, a powerful adaptogen that fights the effects of free radicals on the skin. It also prevents the loss of moisture, ensuring the skin stays plump and hydrated.

This formula also features four different peptides, which fight multiple signs of aging for a more youthful appearance. At the same time, antioxidant-rich coffee arabica fights both puffiness and dark circles. A blend of superfoods further nourishes and fortifies the eye area with vitamins and nutrients, while ceramides, glycerin, and other ingredients hydrate and soften the skin.

13. Versed Zero-G Smoothing Eye Cream

The Versed Zero-G Smoothing Eye Cream is one of our top picks for anyone looking for an affordable yet highly effective formula. This expertly crafted cream was created to fight multiple signs of aging around the eyes (including crow’s feet) for a youthful and radiant appearance. While it does have a creamier texture, it absorbs well into the skin and doesn’t leave behind a greasy finish. We also appreciate the vegan, cruelty-free, and clean formula, which doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, or fragrances.

This Versed eye cream is made with two different types of peptides to firm the skin and soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. These peptides are joined by the extract of an algae called nannochloropsis oculata, which is loaded with skin-loving amino acids, antioxidants, and vitamins. This extract nourishes the skin and protects it against the negative effects of free radicals. It also smooths fine lines and wrinkles.

A unique addition to this formula is mica, which is ethically sourced. Right after application, mica instantly improves the appearance of dark circles by reflecting light and brightening the skin, giving a more awake appearance. The formula is finished off with a range of ingredients that plump, hydrate, and calm the skin, including olive oil, shea butter, and sodium hyaluronate.

FAQs

When should you use an anti-aging eye cream?

Use an anti-aging eye cream both in the morning and at night if desired. Frequent and consistent application will help you work toward your skincare goals. That said, there are some eye creams that are made with ingredients that should only be used at night.

Retinol is one of the biggest examples. When exposed to UV light, this vitamin A derivative can increase the skin’s sun sensitivity. It also degrades with sun exposure, which means it won’t be as effective. If you choose an eye cream with retinol, it’s best to only apply it in the evening.

Can you use an eye cream daily?

Yes, apply your eye cream on a daily basis—any product of your choice up to two times per day (with the exception of retinol eye creams, as mentioned above) to effectively soften lines and wrinkles, fight under eye circles, minimize puffiness, and moisturize the skin.

How do you apply eye cream?

For the best results, apply your eye cream properly and in the right order. In the evening, you’ll apply your eye cream after cleansing, applying any topical treatments or serums, and applying your moisturizer. If you apply your eye cream in the morning, follow the same order, but your sunscreen will go on top.

As far as actually applying the eye cream goes, make sure you have a soft touch because the skin around the eyes is thin and delicate. Take your ring finger (which will give you the gentlest application), and grab a small amount of the eye cream. Gently tap it underneath the eyes to let it absorb into the skin, bringing it out and up to the brow bone.

Some eye products come in a rollerball or metal tip applicator. If this is the case, use that applicator instead of your ring finger. Just make sure you’re still applying it with little pressure and without tugging on the skin.

What should you look for in an anti-aging eye cream?

There are a range of proven, highly effective ingredients that are ideal for anyone looking to minimize and prevent signs of aging around the eyes. When it comes to anti-aging, vitamin C, retinol, and peptides should be at the top of your list.

Dehydrated skin also shows more fine lines, wrinkles, and a loss of volume, so eye creams with hydrating ingredients are incredibly beneficial. Some great ingredients to be look out for include shea butter, squalane, hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, and glycerin.

Similarly, brightening and depuffing ingredients energize and awaken the eyes, making them appear more youthful. Caffeine and coffee extracts are excellent ingredients for both of these issues, and niacinamide is ideal for targeting dark circles. Vitamin C also offers brightening benefits, in addition to being a highly effective anti-ager.